From Vietnam, a story of an amateur collector who has managed to build up an impressive collection of dynastic seals from feudal Vietnam as well as prehistoric antiques. There’s more than a few stories like these, and it makes one wonder how much of Vietnam’s ancient heritage is in the hands of private collectors?

Nguyen Van Pham has spent more than 15 years travelling the country to find old seals and stamps used by the rulers of the later Le (1418-1789), Tay Son (1778-1802) and Nguyen (1802-1945) dynasties.

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He also has 2,000 stone objects 2,500 to 3,500 years old that were found in Dong Nai Province, as well as Champa artifacts and bronze objects from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization, which thrived from the seventh to third century BC.